Miner s knife



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. BERGEN, OF LEADVILLE, COLORADO.

MINERS KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,068, datedSeptember 1, 1896. Application filed March 27, 1896. Serial No. 586,078.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoRGE M. BERGEN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Leadv ille, in the county of Lake and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MinersKnives; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side view of a knife embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a side Viewwith the blade partly closed, as in operation.

The object of this invention is to provide a convenient pocket-knife foruse by miners and others for the purpose of cutting the fuse employed inblasting and for securing thereon the fulminate or exploding caps, whichare necessary where giant-powder or other explosive is used which cannotbe exploded by an ordinary fuse. 4

It is the common practice among miners at present to cut the fuses tothe desired length with ordinary knives, and after placing the capthereon to secure it in place by indenting it upon the fuse. This iscommonly done with the teeth or with the candlestick.

The present invention is designed to provide a knife which, whileadapted for general use, is also provided with means for facilitatingthe cutting of the fuse and also for indenting the cap thereon to secureit in place.

\Vith this object in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts, all substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings the letter A designates the handle, and Bthe hinged blade, of a pocket-knife, which in general is similar toordinary knives.

Formed in the upper edges of the handle, at each side of the groove orseat which receives the blade and a short distance from where the bladeis hinged, are two transverse semicircular grooves or notches a 6, whilein the blade in position to register with the notch 19 is a notch c ofsimilar form. Extending through the blade into the said notch e is a pinor punch point f, and extending up into the groove or seat of the handleopposite the notches Z) and in line with the pin or punch point f is asimilar pin or punch point g.

The knife is used as follows: The fuse to be cut is laid in the grooveor notch a, and the knife-blade is closed down upon and through it. Thecap is then placed upon the fuse, the blade is opened, and the cap islaid in the notches b. The blade is closed down upon the cap and the twopins or punches f and g inset or indent the cap at opposite pointsagainst the fuse, which secures it in place. Owing to the fact that thenotch c of the blade is very near the heel thereof it does not interferewith the use of the knife for general purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The herein-described pocket-knife for miners use, the same consisting ina handle having in its upper edges, upon each side of the knife seat orgroove, the transverse semicircular notches o and b, the notches a beingof less diameter than the notches b, and a pin g projecting into saidknife seat or groove in line with the notches b, in combination with ahinged blade having near its heel a semicircular notch 0, adapted toregister with the slots b and the pin f projectingthrough the blade intothe said notch, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEo. M. BERGEN.

Witnesses:

T. OOoNNELL, A. S. WESTON.

